When the LORD doesn’t want to listen to prayers.

耶利米書 (Jeremiah )07：16-28

7:16 上主說：「耶利米呀，不要替這些人禱告，也不要為他們哀求。你不要向我祈求，因為我不聽。7:17 難道你沒有看見他們在猶大各城鎮，在耶路撒冷的大街小巷做些甚麼嗎？7:18 他們的兒女收集木柴，父親點火，母親揉麵團做供餅，獻給他們的女神天后。他們也向別的神明奠酒，故意激怒我。7:19 其實，他們不是傷害我，而是傷害自己，自取其辱。7:20 所以，我─至高的上主要把忿怒傾瀉在這座聖殿，也要傾瀉在人、動物、樹木，和五榖上面。我的忿怒像烈火燃燒，沒有人能撲滅。7:21 「我的子民哪，你們認為有些牲祭要燒光，有些牲祭可以吃。但是我─上主、萬軍的統帥、以色列的上帝這樣說：你們不如把所有的祭肉通通吃掉。7:22 我領你們的祖先出埃及的時候，我並沒有命令他們獻燒化祭或其他祭物。7:23 我只命令他們聽從我；這樣，我就作他們的上帝，他們作我的子民。我要他們遵行我的道路；這樣，他們就會萬事順利。7:24 可是，他們不聽從，也不理會，反而受自己那頑固邪惡的心所支配，越變越壞。7:25 從你們祖先離開埃及那一天，我一再地差派我的僕人─先知們向你們傳話，7:26 但是沒有人理會，沒有人聽話。你們比你們祖先更頑劣，更悖逆。7:27 「因此，耶利米呀，你要向我子民傳達這些話，但是他們不聽；你要呼召他們，但是他們不應答，7:28 你要指責他們：他們的國家不接受懲戒，不聽從我─上主、他們的上帝。忠信喪盡，他們連提都不提了！」

¹⁶ "So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen to you. ¹⁷ Do you not see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? ¹⁸ The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire and the women knead the dough and make cakes of bread for the Queen of Heaven. They pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke me to anger. ¹⁹ But am I the one they are provoking? declares the LORD. Are they not rather harming themselves, to their own shame? ²⁰ " 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: My anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place, on man and beast, on the trees of the field and on the fruit of the ground, and it will burn and not be quenched. ²¹ " 'This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves! ²² For when I brought your forefathers out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, ²³ but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you that it may go well with you. ²⁴ But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward. ²⁵ From the time your forefathers left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets. ²⁶ But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They were stiff-necked and did more evil than their forefathers.' ²⁷ "When you tell them all this, they will not listen to you; when you call to them, they will not answer. ²⁸ Therefore say to them, 'This is the nation that has not obeyed the LORD its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.

一、中心內容：Core Message

內容：Content
1>上帝已經不再垂聽以色列百姓的禱告，也不垂聽先知耶利米的代求.（v16）
The LORD doesn’t listen to the people of Israel’s prayers anymore; the LORD doesn’t want to listen to Jeremiah’s plea, petition and prayer for the people. (v16)
2>上帝不再垂聽以色列百姓禱告的原因，就是因為他們全家搭配事奉他神。（v17-19）The reason that the Lord doesn’t listen to the prayer of the Israeli is because they are all prepared to light the fire, make bread, and pour out drinks to other gods.(v17-19)
3>上帝表示：因祂的憤怒，所以懲罰將臨到，就是要毀滅大地。（v20）
The LORD says: “My anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place.” The Lord wants to burn everything on earth and that it will not to be quenched. The severe punishment will befall. (v20)
4>上帝表示：祂不愛祭物，只愛百姓擁有順服的心。（v21-23）
The LORD says: He doesn’t like burnt offerings and sacrifices, but He likes the people to obey Him . (v21-23)
5>上帝表示：自古以來，以色列百姓屢勸不聽。（v24-26）
The LORD says: From the time your forefathers left Egypt until now, they didn’t listen or pay attention to LORD day after day, again and again, they did even more than their forefathers. (v24-26)

主題：Theme
1>當上帝不聽禱告時。When the LORD doesn’t want to listen to prayers.
2>聽命勝於獻祭。Obeying the LORD is more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices.

二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？Who is God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit?

1>不垂聽禱告（因為百姓徹底背逆）的上帝。（v16）

The LORD didn’t listen to the prayers (Because the people went completely against Him) (v16)

2>遭受百姓激怒、大發烈怒的上帝。（v18-20）

The LORD was provoked by the people. He was very furious about it. (v18-20)
3>降災、毀滅的上帝。(v20）

The LORD wants to burn everything on earth and not let it be quenched. (v20)
4>萬軍的統帥上帝。（v21）

The LORD Almighty (v21)
5>盼望百姓聽從的上帝（v23）

The LORD wants the people to obey Him. (v23)
6>萬福源頭的上帝。（v23）

The LORD is the source of all good.

7>差派先知，以儆醒百姓的上帝。（v25）

The LORD sent a prophet to alert the people.

三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？What lessons (command, covenant, role modeling, rebuking and warning) are God teaching us?

1>上帝不聽禱告時（v16）When the LORD doesn’t want to listen to prayers
上主說：耶利米呀，不要替這些人禱告，也不要為他們哀求。你不要向我祈求，因為我不聽。（v16） "So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen to you. (v16)

上帝是滿有慈愛的上帝，也是期待祂的選民，常常藉著禱告尋求祂面的上帝，更是照著應許垂聽禱告的上帝。但是由於選民的背逆，導致令祂對選民徹底的絕望，甚至拒絕再垂聽他們的禱告，也不許先知再為他們代求。這樣的情境是悲慘的！就像一個背逆的兒子，背逆到讓愛他的父親徹底絕望時一樣，那時的景況將會是淒涼、悲慘的。

God is full of love; He looks forward to the chosen people to seek God’s face through prayer. God listens to the prayers with promises. However, due to the chosen people going against Him again and again, the LORD felt complete despair and even refused to listen to their prayers. He also forbade the Prophet to plea or to pray for them. This situation is tragic! It is like a son against his father; his father loves him so much but feels complete despair. That kind of situation is hopeless and sad.

反省：我是否想過，要是哪一天，當上帝不再聽我禱告時，我生命中的景況將會是如何？

Reflection: Have I ever thought that one day LORD doesn’t listen to my prayer anymore,
what would it be of my life?

2>家家戶戶拜偶像（v17-18） Every household worship worthless idols.
難道你沒有看見他們在猶大各城鎮，在耶路撒冷的大街小巷做些甚麼嗎？他們的兒女收集木柴，父親點火，母親揉麵團做供餅，獻給他們的女神天后。他們也向別的神明奠酒，故意激怒我。（v17-18）

Do you not see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire and the women knead the dough and make cakes of bread for the Queen of Heaven. They pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke me to anger. (v17-18)

上帝不僅本身拒絕再聽他們的禱告，甚至也吩咐先知耶利米，不要再為他們代求，原因就是目睹以色列百姓，在猶大各城鎮，在耶路撒冷的大街小巷，舉國上下都祭拜偶像。

The LORD didn’t want to listen to their prayers. He even asked the prophet Jeremiah not to plea, petition and pray for them, because the Lord saw all the Israeli worshipping other gods in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem.

尤其看見家家戶戶、大大小小，通力合作，服事偶像的景象。就是：他們的兒女收集木柴，父親點火，母親揉麵團做供餅，獻給他們的女神天后。怎不令上帝神傷？
這種舉國上下、大街小巷、全家老小，全面性的背逆，莫怪讓上帝如此神傷與絕望！

He saw every household of the nation worshipping worthless idols. The children gathered wood, the fathers lit the fire and the women kneaded the dough and made cakes of bread for the Queen of Heaven. They poured out drink offerings to other gods. No wonder the LORD felt sad and hopeless about this situation.

反省：看到當時如此情景，也來想想如今的自己。我的國家、我的社會、我的家庭又如何？

Reflection: From this situation, let’s think about ourselves, How about our nation, our society, and our family?

3>招致全面的禍患（v19-20）Incurred scourge over all
其實，他們不是傷害我，而是傷害自己，自取其辱。所以，我─至高的上主要把忿怒傾瀉在這座聖殿，也要傾瀉在人、動物、樹木，和五榖上面。我的忿怒像烈火燃燒，沒有人能撲滅。（v19-20）

But am I the one they are provoking? declares the LORD. Are they not rather harming themselves, to their own shame? Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: My anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place, on man and beast, on the trees of the field and on the fruit of the ground, and it will burn and not be quenched. (v19-20)

當以色列百姓如此背逆之後，其實真正受傷害的並不是上帝，而是以色列百姓自己。因為上帝依然是上帝，根本毫髮無傷。但是以色列百姓，將因此而自招禍患、自取其辱。因為當上帝大發烈怒，降下懲罰的時候，不僅禍患傾注在聖殿，也要傾注在人、動物、樹木，和五榖上面。也就是將遭受全面性的禍患，尤其，上帝的忿怒，要像烈火燃燒一樣，沒有人能撲滅。

When the Israeli people went against God, the real person to get hurt is not God, but the Israeli people themselves, because God is still God, He is unharmed. But the Israeli people will get the scourge, bring disgrace upon themselves, because when God gets angry, His wrath will be poured out as punishment, the scourge will not only be on temple, but also poured on people, animals, trees, and grains. People will suffer the scourge thoroughly. God's anger would be like fire burning that no one can put out.

反省：我的心思意念、言行舉止，是否經常惹起上帝的憤怒？我如何更加謹慎的守住自己？
Reflection: Do my ideas, words and deeds often arouse the wrath of God? How
can I be more prudent to keep myself from provoking God?

4>順服神勝於獻祭。（v22-23） Obeying the Lord is more important than burning offerings and sacrifices
我領你們的祖先出埃及的時候，我並沒有命令他們獻燒化祭或其他祭物。我只命令他們聽從我；這樣，我就作他們的上帝，他們作我的子民。我要他們遵行我的道路；這樣，他們就會萬事順利。（v22-23）

For when I brought your forefathers out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give those commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, 23 but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you that it may go well with you. (v22-23)

回顧當初，當上帝帶領他們的祖先出埃及時，並沒有命令他們要獻上任何祭物，只命令他們要聽從、要順服。只要他們願意聽從、順服，遵行上帝的道路，就必萬事順利（蒙恩得福）。這樣的情境，就是所謂「聽命勝於獻祭」。
「聽命勝於獻祭」的信息，在聖經當中比比皆是。如：撒母耳記上15:22、以賽亞書1:10-20、耶利米書6:20、何西阿書6:6、阿摩司書5:21-24、彌迦書6:6-8。就以今天來說：若是不順服上帝，不遵行祂的旨意，空有熱誠的服事，甚至大把金錢的奉獻，同樣得不到上帝的悅納。

Recall the beginning, when God led their ancestors out of Egypt, there was no order for them to present any sacrifices. They were only ordered to obey and to comply. As long as they listened, obeyed and followed God's path, they would be blessed for everything. This kind of situation is the so-called "Obedience is superior to sacrifice”. The message of "Obedience is superior to sacrifice" is all around in the Bible. Such as: 1 Samuel 15:22, Isaiah 1:10-20, Jeremiah 6:20, Hosea 6:6, Amos 5:21-24, Micah 6:6 -8. Take this example: To disobey God, not abide His will, but have plenty of enthusiasm to serve, and even offer a lot of money won’t get God’s favor.

反省：聽命（順服）與獻祭（事奉、奉獻）這兩樣，在我生命中的優先次序如何？
Reflection: Obey (obedience) and sacrifices (ministry, dedication), how are the priorities
in my life?

5>獻祭的真正意義The true meaning of sacrifice（v22-23）

上帝為了讓人們過著順服的生活，才設立了獻祭的禮儀。因此，上帝真正要的不是禮儀、不是祭物，而是人，是祂所愛的人，也就是人心的歸向。所以，祭物跟祭禮，完全沒有讓上帝喜悅的理由或因素，但是藉著祭物跟禮儀，可以讓人自我反省，離棄罪惡、歸向上帝，甚至進而為上帝而活。上帝所喜悅的就是這個部份，這也就是上帝設立禮儀、規範祭物的真正目的。

God set up the establishment of a sacrificial ritual, in order to allow people to live a life of obedience. Therefore, what God really wants is not etiquette, not sacrifice, but a person who is the loved by God. That is a person’s heart that abides God’s will. Therefore, sacrifice with the ritual doesn’t make God happy, but through the ritual and sacrifices, people have a chance for self-reflection, to abandon our iniquities and to turn to God or even live for God. God likes this, which is the real purpose of God’s establishment of ceremony, norms and sacrifices.

反省：在上帝面前，我所在乎的是奉獻、事奉、禮儀？還是懺悔、謙卑、順服、渴慕祂的心？

Reflection: Before God, is what I care about dedication, service and ritual or repentance, humility, obedience and the desire to seek Him?

6>上帝憤怒的原因 The reason of God’s wrath（v25-28）

從你們祖先離開埃及那一天，我一再地差派我的僕人─先知們向你們傳話，但是沒有人理會，沒有人聽話。你們比你們祖先更頑劣，更悖逆。「因此，耶利米呀，你要向我子民傳達這些話，但是他們不聽；你要呼召他們，但是他們不應答，你要指責他們：他們的國家不接受懲戒，不聽從我─上主、他們的上帝。忠信喪盡，他們連提都不提了！」（v25-28）
From the time your forefathers left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets. ²⁶ But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They were stiff-necked and did more evil than their forefathers.' ²⁷ "When you tell them all this, they will not listen to you; when you call to them, they will not answer. ²⁸ Therefore say to them, 'This is the nation that has not obeyed the LORD its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips. (v25-28)

以色列百姓為何令上帝如此憤怒呢？原因就是他們不肯聽從上帝的話語。自從上帝帶領他們的祖先離開埃及那一天，上帝就不斷差派先知向他們傳話，但是令上帝感到遺憾的就是：竟然沒有人理會，完全沒有人聽從。不僅他們的祖先是這樣，當時的以色列百姓更是變本加厲。因此，以色列百姓不聽話、不順服、徹底背逆，就是令上帝憤怒的原因。
How did the people of Israel cause God’s wrath? They refused to obey God's Word. Since the day that God led their ancestors out of Egypt, God has continually sent out prophets to talk to them. What God regretted is this: there was no one who even cared, no one who listened to. Their ancestors did this, and the Israeli people were worse. The people of Israel disobeyed and did not comply which is the reason to make God's anger.

反省：在上帝面前「順服就必蒙福」的道理，我是否真正明白？
Reflection: Before God, do I really understand the truth of “obedience is a blessing”?

Translated into English by Teresa Yang